Jared Cannonier and Sean Strickland are ready to headline UFC Vegas 66, which is the last event of the promotion this year. The event will take place on Saturday inside UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Cannonier (15-6) is coming off a loss against Israel Adesanya and is looking to bounce back from the decision loss. ‘The Killa Gorilla’ is currently #3 in the middleweight ranking and is 8-6 in the promotion. Cannonier is considered to be one of the best fighters in the division and has incredible victories over Anderson Silva, Derek Brunson, Kevin Gastelum, among others.
The final fight card of 2022 is upon us!
Jared Cannonier vs Sean Strickland headlines Saturday at #UFCVegas66 pic.twitter.com/keYHtdlnp8
— UFC (@ufc) December 12, 2022
On the other hand, Strickland (25-4) is also coming off a loss at the hands of Alex Pereira. He was viciously knocked out by Pereira at UFC 276 and is currently at #7 in the middleweight ranking after the loss. Both of the fighters are coming off losses and will be surely putting up a banger performance hoping to pick up a win.
Cannonier vs Strickland Stats
| Stats | Jared Cannonier | Sean Strickland |
| Wins | 15 | 25 |
| Losses | 6 | 4 |
| Height | 1.8 m | 1.85 m |
| Division | Middleweight (185lbs) | Middleweight (185lbs) |
| Reach | 1.97 m | 1.93 m |
| Age | 38 | 31 |
Cannonier vs Strickland fight breakdown
Jared Cannonier is a very well-rounded fighter and is known for being a powerful striker. Besides being a threat on the feet, he is also very good on the mat. Cannonier has very good wrestling and solid takedown defense.
‘The Killa Gorilla’ displayed his scary power when he took out Brunson and Silva in a dominant fashion. Cannonier fought Adesanya for the middleweight gold but unfortunately failed at capturing the title. He has great cardio and a flawless defense.
One more card to finish the year strong 💪
Cannonier vs Strickland in our final main event of 2022 at #UFCVegas66! pic.twitter.com/aMxqQtTlXl
— UFC (@ufc) December 12, 2022
Cannonier is a very explosive striker and utilizes his powerful strikes. He is very good at mixing up his shots and usually follows up his combinations with a strong kick. After looking at his opponent’s fighting style, it looks like Cannonier’s boxing and hard kicks will play a very important role in this fight.
Meanwhile, Sean Strickland will need to improve his fighting strategy to win this bout. In his last bout against Pereira, his poor striking defense and fighting style caused him a brutal knockout defeat. However, Strickland must’ve learned from his mistakes and will bring a better strategy in this bout.
Sean Strickland is looking for redemption at #UFCVegas66 tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/5q9VK4fGBH
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) December 16, 2022
Strickland is known for being an aggressive fighter and his skills are overlooked because of his recent loss to one of the most dangerous strikers in the world. However, ‘Tarzan’ should not be underestimated for his unorthodox style as he is a big threat on the feet.
Who will win at UFC Vegas 66: Cannonier vs Strickland?
Both of the fighters are dangerous strikers and have the ability to get a knockout win. However, Strickland’s grappling can play an important role in this matchup. It is to be assumed that Strickland has also improved his striking defense after his recent loss.
However, Cannonier has very good takedown defense and we believe Stickland will have some trouble taking the fight to the mat. This is a tough matchup but Cannonioer’s hard-hitting style can stop ‘Tarzan’ earlier in the fight and if this bout goes to the distance, ‘The Killa Gorilla’ can pick up a decision win. Can’t count out Strickland, but we are leaning toward Jared Cannonier to get the job done.
Prediction: Jared Cannonier via KO/TKO
